Wichita eagle., 1887-04-15

associstes lay communicated the lntein-
eeoos which had caught They agreed
With me that our time had come. We
kept the secret closely guarded, knowing
that q general rush would be fatal to our
plans. We made our stealthy move about
O'Clock in the morning. We climbed
the fence with but little trouble. Ipasssd
near one of the guards. He was sitting,
leaning back against stump, and was
sound asleep. took his gun and box OF
cartridges which he had deposited on the
ground near him. We spoke not word
until we were fully half mile from the
scene of our imprisonment. Then we
stopped and laughed. By the time the
sun rose we were quite number OF miles
from the ''stockade," but we knew that
we should be pursued. Hunger began to
pinch us. This was serious, for, dressed as
we were, we dare not go near human
habitation. he next day we stopped and
held q consultation. It was better to risk
recapture than to go hungry, accordingly
We decided to call at the next house. We
soon came upon q farm. Walking up
boldly we entered the house. There was
no one ~ home except little girl about
- years old. She was the most beautiful
child have ever seen. She was fright
ened at hrst, but soon recovering, she
gave Us something to eat. She exercised
. strange influence on me. Her sweet
face at once reminded me that purity ex-
listed in tho world. She took special lik-
ing to me, and when limited that would
like to have an old suit Of clothes, that
I was tired Of wearing ugly stripes, she,
not knowing that she was committing q
crime, procured for me an old suit Of
clothes. At the gate kissed her hand.
Ny companions, three vile wretches, were
not impressed by the little girl, and had l
net possessed gun am sure thst they
would have robbed the house.
We had not gone much furthr when
pursuers came within sight. Then there
was race for liberty. I was feet, more
80 than the wretches. About the time
night set In two of my fellow convicts had
been captured. The other one kept close
to me. A gun fired, heard yell. Look
ing around, saw him fall. The dirk
ness and the dense woods protected me.
I escaped. Finding canoe, l crossed the
river The face of the little girl was con-
stantly before me.
succeeded in making my way to New
York. In the great city I was compare
dvey safe. Under an assumed name
went to work in a manufacturing estab
nshment. I bent my every energy to the
work, and from time to time I was pro-
NOTED. Three years from the time en-
tered the establishment was the super
intsndent Of the entire works. Ny serv-
ices became 50 valuable that / was
admitted a. a partner. saved my money
and became wealthy, yet not for . mo-
ment did forget the crushing fact that
vas . convict.
Ono day while on ferry boat took
up newspaper which some one had left
on q chair Opening it I saw that it was
An Arkansas sheet. The next moment
was thrilled. Below startling headlines
appeared the following:
Several years ago q Highly respected
young man named Henry Debson was con-
victea ef the crime Of numbering one of
our most prominent citizens, a Mr..
Napleson. Debson was sentenced to be
hanged. but the governor committed his
sentence to Imprisonment tor life. Deb
son escaped and went no one knows
whittier. Now comes the real tragedy.
About q month age q man named Evans,
who swore that he had seen Debson strike
AARXOoOA o&Au " IN AouA0 ACt1A CuO SCCA0
Of tho murder knife bearing the initials
Of Dsbson's name, was taken violently i'll.
Believing recovery to be impossible and
fearing TO die with such q burden on his
heart, he confessed that he, inspired by
bitter enmity, he murdered Mapleson.
From the very moment Of the confession
he began to improve and soon became SO
we'll that he was taken to prison. After
. short trial, during which he did not at
tempt to make q defense, he was sentenced
to be hanged. The execution took place
last Friday, and was witnessed by large
crowd Of people The public deeply sym
pathizes with young Debson, and should
he ever como back to the state he will re-
oeive an enthusiastic ovation"
I cannot describe my sensations. l
hurried to my place of business, and sitter
relating to my partners the experience
through which I had passed, / showed
them the Arkansas paper. My partners
were rejoiced. They declared that such
vindication was worth half a lifetime Of
trouble.
I Immediately set out for Arkansas I
indeed received an ovation. MI Gray,
the old minister, took me by the hand
and said:
81 was intimate with your father and
did not SEQ how his son could commit
such crime but the proof was 50 strong
against you. Your earnest protestations
Of innocence caused me to call upon the
governor and intsrceds In your behalf"
purchased tho farm where had spent
. happy childhood Every one was desir-
Gus Of bestowing honors upon me, and
the governor himself came ont and in the
presence Of great crowd gave thanks
that great wrong had been averted.
During all this time had not ceased to
think of the little girl whose beautiful
iace had banished my intentions of be-
coming an outlaw. l had gone to the
house where l had seen her, but her
father, Mr.. Miller, had moved away and
no one in the neighborhood knew his
place of residence One night at theatre
In Little Rock saw that face knew it
I'm moment. AT the conclusion of the
performance l followed the girl, who, in
company with an old man, wnnD to a
hotel. INTRODUCED myself to Mr. Miller,
and he introduced me to his daughter Ida.
II have seen you before somewhere
abe said.
"You have seen me-"
"When!'
II will tell you when we become better
acquainted"
did tell her-told her one night when
abe had promised to be my wife. Several
years have elapsed since eur marriage.
We 1--we In New York most Of the time
and the old man Miller lives with US
have built O monument above Mr. Gray's
resting place.-Atlanta Constitution.
II Looks Like 1t.
when New Workers." says q writer.